October 1, 1984

Prime Minister Zhao Ziyang today reiterated China's offer to let Taiwan retain its capitalist economic and social system if it reu nited with the Communist mainland. The renewed overture was linked to the initialing of an agreement on Hong Kong by Britain and China four days ago. That accord allows the territory to keep its free enterprise system and life style for 50 years after it is returned to Chinese rule in 1997. China has said that Taiwan could be a special administrative region like Hong Kong but could have even broader autonomy. The Chinese Government has asserted that Taiwan could keep its armed forces, while Chinese troops will be garrisoned in Hong Kong.

Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own. . . And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind. . . The words were written in Vietnam 14 years ago by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell of Springfield, Ill., three months before he was lost when his helicopter was shot down. Now, the major's poem and the writings of other Vietnam veterans, their families and friends are being considered for inscription on a memorial planned for lower Manhattan. Page B1.

During the recession, the Eaton Corporation cut back the number of its business jets from seven to five. Now profits have rebounded at the auto industry supplier, but it has no plans to replace the planes. Similarly, the Ford Motor Company, which has a fleet of eight planes, has reduced the number of its pilots since 1979 from 27 to 23 and has put one plane on part-time use. It has decided to hold off replacing four turboprop planes and one Gulfstream II that date from the 1960's.

The candidate was asked why Walter F. Mondale would be more successful than Ronald Reagan in a parley with the Soviets. ''Lemme just put it to ya this way,'' Geraldine A. Ferraro began, in her finest oratorical style. Syntax and thoughts were flying, vowels were flattening and syllables were dropping. But the audience of Associated Press news executives in Providence, R.I., was listening raptly and admiringly, caught up in the tough and sassy Queens speaking style that has become the surprise hit of the campaign season.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. The wait was over, the suspense had ended at last, and now the Rutgers football players had assembled to listen to their new head coach. As Dick Anderson stood before his players, he left them with an unmistakable first impression. What Albert Smith, the leading rusher for the last two seasons, remembered from that meeting had nothing to do with lofty goals or inspiring speeches. The memory he took from that day was an invitation for the players to remove their hats. It was once not uncommon to see a lot of hats in the team's dressing room; baseball hats, woolen hats, all kinds. ''He walked in and he said, 'Can you take your hats off?' '' Smith said. Somewhere in their coach's request - in his tall frame, the deep-set eyes, the voice a sergeant would like, or all those things - was the message: And keep them that way.